Switch-throwing mechanism.



J. MEANYQ SWITCH THROWING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1912.

1,048,563, Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

amen/fez James fling.

JAMES MEANY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH-THROWING MECHANISM.

Original application filed March 5, 1912, Serial No. 681,690.

Serial No. 704,294.

To (LU whom it 'nL-ay concern. Be it known that I, JAMns h/TEANY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Switch- Throwing Mechanism, of which thetollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to lll'lPl'OVGlllCllt-S 1n switch throwingmechanism, the object of the invention being to provide an improvedmechanism supported on a car and which is constructed to permit thelateral swinging movement of the car, yet insures the switch beingproperly thrown without the necessity of stopping the car.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of this character whichallows the switch to be thrown in elther direction in accordance withthe position of the switch throwing member.

This application is a division of my application filed March 5, 1912,and given Serial No. 681,690.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and combinations and arrangements ofparts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is a plan view illustrating myimproved switch. Fig. 2, is a view in cross section through the switchand through a car platform. Fig. 3, is a view in section at right anglesto Fig. 2, the line of section being taken through the guide at one sideof the switch operating bar. Fig. 4, is a broken plan View of the switchpoint, and Fig. 5, is a plan view of the track section at the switchpoint.

1, 1, represent the rails of the main t *ack, and 2, 2, the rails of aturnout. These rails are curved and at their juncture my improved switchpoint 3 is located. This switch point 3 also has a longitudinal curvewhich normally registers with the curve in the side track and at one endthe switch point is pivotally connected by a pin 4, so that it may bethrown to a position to close the main track and open the turnout. Therails, at their juncture, as well as the switch point, are supportedupon a suitable bed 5 which is provided with transverse slots 6 in whichlinks 7 are positioned. These links,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31,191 2.

Divided and this application filed June 18,

at one end, are pivotally connected to the switch point 3 as shown at 8,and at their other ends are pivotally connected to a switch member 9.This member 9 extends longitudinally of the track, and at opposite sidesis tapered forming cam faces 10, 10. These cam faces 10, 10, areproperly proportioned so that a bar 20 operated from a cal 12 is adaptedto throw the member 9 a distance sutlicient to operate the switch pointwhen said bar contacts with the cam faces 10, as will be hereinafterexplained.

The car platform 13 is provided with a transverse opening 11, in which adepending board 15 is secured, and preferably held by a bracket 16. )nthe front face of this board 15, four parallelv guides 17 are secured,the upper ends of which are pivotally connected to the board by means ofscrews 18, so that the guides at their lower ends have a certain amountof lateral movement. They are held, however, in normal position bysprings 19 which are secured to the board, and these springs are adaptedto compensate for any lateral swinging movement of the car for returningthe guides to normal position. i

A removable switch operating bar 20 is provided and is adapted to beinserted between the guides 17. \Vhile, of course, there are four of theguides, there are only two positions for the bar 20, one to throw theswitch in one direction, and the other in the opposite direction.

A transverse pin 21 is positioned through bar 20, and is adapted toengage over the upper ends of the guides and under hooks 22 on plate 15.The pin is positioned on top of the guides 18 and is extended back underthe hooks 22. The pin therefore maintains the bar in its ope 'ativeposition, and the hooks prevent any upward movement of the bar when thebar strikes the member 9.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, and it isdesired to take the turnout, the motorman places bar 20 be tween theleft hand pair of guides which is the position shown in Fi .2. As thecar approaches the switch, the lower end of the bar will engage member 9as shown in Fig. 1, so that the continued movement of the car will, dueto the cam face 10, cause the member 9 to be moved so as to throw theswitch point and open the turnout. If

the turnout is open, the bar will be positioned between the other guidesso as to swing the switch point in the opposite direction as will bereadily understood.

Street railway cars, as is well known, are mounted upon springs, andsometimes there is a considerable lateral swaying movement of the car.To prevent damage to the switch and to the mechanism for operating.

the general form and arrangement of parts described without departingfrom my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precisedetails set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changesand alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a switch throwing mechanism, the combination with a car, ofvertical guides on the car having lateral movement, and a bar adapted tobe positioned in said guides and held thereby in position to throw aswitch, substantially as described.

2. In a switch throwing mechanism, the combination with a car, adepending board secured to the car and projecting through a slottherein, parallel guides pivotally connected adjacent their upper endsto said board, springs on the opposite sides of said guides, and aswitch throwing bar adapted to be positioned between said guides,substantially as described.

3. In a switch throwing mechanism, the combination with a car, adepending board secured to the bar and projecting through a slottherein, parallel guides pivotally connected adjacent their upper endsto said board, springs on the opposite sides of said guides, a switchthrowing bar adapted to be positioned between said. guides, forwardlyprojecting hooks on the upper end of said 5 board, and a transverse pinon the switch throwing bar adapted to be positioned under said hooks,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES MEANY.

lVitnesses CHARLES E. Po'rrs, R. H. KRENKEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

